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The head of Franklin County's Department of Job and Family Services is the new director of the
state Job and Family Services agency, replacing Helen Jones-Kelley, who resigned Wednesday.

Gov. Ted Strickland announced the appointment of Doug Lumpkin today.

Speculation that Lumpkin would be tapped to take over the Ohio Department of Job and Family
Services began last month when Jones-Kelley was suspended without pay for authorizing a background
check of "Joe the Plumber," who achieved fleeting fame during the presidential campaign.

She had been scheduled to return to work Monday after a monthlong unpaid suspension.

Lumpkin, 51, said he is ready for the job and looks forward to working "to address the economic
challenges facing Ohio families." He will start Jan. 12 and be paid $141,980 a year, the same as
Jones-Kelley was.

"Doug's background in public administration, government and technology, combined with his strong
commitment to public service, make him an ideal candidate to lead the Department of Job and Family
Services," Strickland said.

"Our state is facing historic economic challenges, and I am glad that Doug will be leading the
agency that will provide critical services to those most in need at this time."

Lumpkin, a graduate of Linden-McKinley High School, has gotten strong reviews at the county
agency he has headed for three years. He reorganized the department, beefed up training and set up
a call center to speed services to families.

He said he hopes to do the same at the state level, listening to state and county officials,
caseworkers and clients to find ways to expedite services and cut bureaucracy where possible.

Before joining the county, Lumpkin, 51, was chief operating and information officer for state
Auditor Betty Montgomery from 2003-2005 and previously spent 20 years at the attorney general's
office, where he was director of administration under Montgomery and others. Before that, Lumpkin
worked in the Ohio secretary of state's office.

His father, Clarence Lumpkin, is a longtime Columbus community activist affectionately referred
to as the mayor of Linden.

"It is an outstanding choice for the governor," said Joel Potts, senior policy analyst with the
Ohio Job and Family Services Directors' Association. "Doug has the experience and leadership
necessary to help the state through one of the most difficult times we've seen in decades. He's the
right man for the job."

The state's largest agency oversees Medicaid, unemployment compensation, subsidized child care,
the welfare program and other services for low-income Ohioans.

With the state's economy in shambles, caseloads are climbing at the same time funding is
becoming scarce. Earlier today, Strickland ordered another $640 million slashed in state spending,
including $32 million from the Department of Job and Family Services.

The governor exempted from cuts subsidized child care, health insurance programs and other
services so much of that money will have to come from administrative costs.